New OVA lab opens doors

Lead mentor teacher Janet Schell helps students in the new lab. (click for larger version)

September 18, 2013 - Last week, Oxford Virtual Academy (OVA) proudly opened the doors to students at their new lab, located in the Market Place Plaza on N. Lapeer Road.

After a little over $2,000 worth of renovations over the summer, the new lab features 3,000 square feet of work and office space. Students have access to 35 onsite computers as well as Wi-Fi and hardwire hook-ups for their own laptops.

OVA Director Andrew Hulbert said all the computers are from the district's previous locations, so they didn't need to buy any new ones.

The new lab also offers a central location for students to receive mentor support, curriculum/instructional support, and guidance counseling for those who need it and features a safe-and-secure entrance. Rent for the new building space is $3,528 per month.

"I really like the space this will provide for our students. This is the largest lab we have offered to date," Hulbert said. "We are very excited for the opportunities this will open for our families."

The Oxford Virtual Academy offers more than 180 different courses including international classes in real-time. Enrollment is open to all K-12 students. There is no cost to students in the contiguous counties of Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Livingston, Genesee and Washtenaw. Summer school is tuition-based.

In addition to the Oxford Campus, OVA also offer four mobile labs in Oxford, Farmington Hills, Royal Oak, and Ann Arbor; as well as an additional Learning Lab located on the Kettering University campus. For more information, please contact Registrar Katherine Caron at 248-969-5009 or Katherine.caron@oxfordschools.org.

Trevor graduated with degrees in English and communications from Rochester College. He wrote for his college and LA View newspapers before joining The Clarkston News in May 2007.